Blue-footed booby A blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. (more) blue-footed booby bird Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/blue-footed-booby Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Animal Diversity Web - Blue-footed booby Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Sula nebouxii Written by Dylan Kelleher Dylan Kelleher is a freelance contributor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Dylan Kelleher, John P. Rafferty John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to... John P. Rafferty•All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Feb 4, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How does the blue-footed booby differ in appearance from other birds in its family? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The blue-footed boobyu2019s blue webbed feet separates the bird from other members of the bird family Sulidae. Adult blue-footed boobies are predominantly brown in color with white undersides and a neck with feathers that alternate between brown and white. In addition to the birdu2019s aforementioned blue feet, it has a gray-blue facial disk that terminates in a long gray beak." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the purpose of the blue feet among blue-footed boobies? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Blue feet are key parts of the birdu2019s courtship. The blue coloration is derived from the intake of carotenoids, a pigment found in fish. Females are attracted to mates with a brighter color blue, which is an indicator of the maleu2019s maturity and health. Studies also indicate that males show a preference for females with vibrant blue feet rather than females with duller-colored feet." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How do blue-footed boobies hunt for food? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Blue-footed boobies hunt by plunge-diving into the ocean from heights of 30 meters (100 feet) to capture fish, often hunting in groups and communicating with whistles. The species is adapted for diving and swimming; its nostrils are permanently closed, and it possesses a specialized air sac in the skull. This air sac protects the bird from the impacts associated with striking the ocean and the pressures that come with swimming as deep as 25 meters (80 feet) below the surface." } } ] } Top Questions How does the blue-footed booby differ in appearance from other birds in its family? The blue-footed booby’s blue webbed feet separates the bird from other members of the bird family Sulidae. Adult blue-footed boobies are predominantly brown in color with white undersides and a neck with feathers that alternate between brown and white. In addition to the bird’s aforementioned blue feet, it has a gray-blue facial disk that terminates in a long gray beak.

　　What is the purpose of the blue feet among blue-footed boobies? Blue feet are key parts of the bird’s courtship. The blue coloration is derived from the intake of carotenoids, a pigment found in fish. Females are attracted to mates with a brighter color blue, which is an indicator of the male’s maturity and health. Studies also indicate that males show a preference for females with vibrant blue feet rather than females with duller-colored feet.

　　How do blue-footed boobies hunt for food? Blue-footed boobies hunt by plunge-diving into the ocean from heights of 30 meters (100 feet) to capture fish, often hunting in groups and communicating with whistles. The species is adapted for diving and swimming; its nostrils are permanently closed, and it possesses a specialized air sac in the skull. This air sac protects the bird from the impacts associated with striking the ocean and the pressures that come with swimming as deep as 25 meters (80 feet) below the surface.

　　blue-footed booby, (Sula nebouxii), large seabird inhabiting arid islands and coastal areas along the eastern Pacific Ocean from Baja California in Mexico south to Peru. The species is distinguished from the cormorants, gannets, and other boobies classified in the family Sulidae by its blue webbed feet. Like several other members of this family, however, blue-footed boobies plunge-dive into the ocean for fish. The species, which is also known for its awkward gait and its indifference to people (an animal behavior that has allowed for the bird’s extensive study), derives its common name from bobo, a Spanish word meaning “foolish” or ...(100 of 811 words)

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